| Popis: |
Epoxy resin systems based on Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (BADGE) monomer and its higher oligomers are important commercial formulations used widely in construction for protective coating of steel structures, such as bridges. The literature on occupational exposures and biomonitoring of BADGE-based epoxies among construction painters is remarkably limited. In this first occupational biomonitoring study of epoxies, 44 construction painters performing mid- and top-coating were recruited from 12 metal structure coating sites in New England. Cross-shift changes in the urinary levels of total BADGE and its three major hydrolysis derivatives - BADGE·2H2O, BADGE·H2O, BADGE·HCl·H2O – were assessed. Results for 81 urine samples collected from coating workers were compared with 28 urine samples of a reference group of 14 spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation workers.The highest concentrations of all biomarkers were found in the urine samples of mid-coat applicators. The major urinary biomarker of BADGE in this cohort of workers, BADGE·2H2O, was detected in 100% of urine samples. The post-shift BADGE·2H2O (specific gravity normalized data) in mid-coat applicators had a geometric mean (GM) of 1.46 ng/mL and a geometric standard deviation (GSD) of 3.6 (range, 0.2–18.7 ng/mL). The second most abundant biomarker in urine, BADGE·HCl·H2O, was measured in 84% of samples, and had a post-shift GM(GSD) of 0.17 (2.3) ng/mL (range, |
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